By far the most popular town in this part of Yorkshire is Beverley, a medieval town which is surrounded on three sides by ancient common lands, known as Beverley Pastures. The main landmark of the town is the Minster. It was founded early in the 8th century, although damage caused during the Viking invasions and the Norman Conquest means that the present building only dates back to 1220. Today, it?s one of the finest examples of a Gothic church of cathedral size in Europe.